No questions about Jackson

There seems to be questions about nearly every defensive back in a Bucs uniform.

Some wonder if Ronde Barber is still an elite cornerback. Others question whether Aqib Talib can become a standout corner. Sabby Piscitelli has to prove he deserves Jermaine Phillips' starting safety position.

The only player who cannot be questioned heading into this season is Tanard Jackson, Tampa Bay's silent, but consistent, player.

"Quiet, deadly marksman. That's what he is," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "He just shows up on your team as a fourth-round draft pick in 2007. He starts the first game. He plays and you go to the playoffs."

Jackson has started 32 consecutive regular-season games, the only defensive player in team history to play that many contests to begin a career.

Morris, who joked that Jackson had a 152-pound frame as a rookie, expects his safety to have a bigger impact in Tampa Bay's new defensive scheme. Jackson welcomes those expectations and believes he can be a difference-maker, but in his quiet fashion.

"I don't think it goes overlooked. Everyone who has been watching me the past two years knows I came in and started all 32 games and played solid," Jackson said. "There are some games that I could have been better, but I don't think it goes overlooked, but that is the way that I like it.

"I like to be under the radar. I like for things to go unnoticed, and that's the way I would like to keep it."

Players' day off

Today will literally be a day of rest for Bucs players.

There will be no practice or team meetings, so players are allowed to escape from One Buc Place and recuperate from their grueling two-a-day schedule.

"I'm fired up about that for those guys," Morris said. "They'll get a chance to go home, see their families Saturday night and today, rest, get off their feet, see their kids. Then we'll get a chance to come back and play some football."

Practice will resume Monday afternoon at 2:30 as Tampa Bay prepares to play the Titans in Tennessee on Saturday.

Ronde 'S-Class' Barber

Barber has been compared to many great cornerbacks, but Morris used a different metaphor Saturday.

Barber was the only veteran given the day off, and when asked if Barber was injured, Morris compared his cornerback to a Mercedes-Benz

"You got the old-school Benz, and we left him in the parking lot today," Morris said. "With the new Benz model, you let them run before they need an oil change. Ronde had to get an oil change today. There was nothing wrong. I just left him up the street at the Benz dealership and I made him sign autographs during water breaks."

Extra points

OL Sean Mahan (calf), OL Jeremy Trueblood (back), DE Greg Peterson (knee), RB Clifton Smith (hamstring) and WR Michael Clayton (hamstring) missed practice. None of the injuries are considered serious. ... Saturday's afternoon practice was canceled because of bad weather. ... The Glazer Family Foundation awarded more than $25,000 in grants to six nonprofit organizations during the morning practice session.

Anwar S. Richardson